Discuss: Flat and Round Characters

Overview

In “Kinds of Character (Links to an external site.),” Ribo (2019) on pages 54-55 describes “flat” and “round” characters as follows:

Flat characters: These characters […] are constructed around a limited number of traits or characteristics. […] Because of their limited qualities, […] they also tend to seem quite artificial and most readers have a hard time identifying with them or taking them for real human beings.

Round characters: These characters are endowed with many different traits or characteristics, some of which might even be contradictory and cause them internal or psychological conflicts. With well-crafted characterization, round characters can appear to be as complex and multifaceted as any human being we might encounter in our world.

Task

1. Write a post of 200-250 words in which you respond to one or both of the following:
   1. Flat characters are a necessity in many stories because they help fill in details of the story or drive the plot forward. What are some considerations in writing flat characters when crafting stories that aim to be inclusive?
   2. Round characters are what keep us reading / watching. What kinds of details are important to you when creating round characters in your fictional and/or nonfictional stories?